Westminstenders: Super Saturday

[RedToothBrush]

Parliament sits on a Saturday for the first time since the Falklands.

A deal has been reached with the EU. Its utterly shite and worse for the UK than May's deal. It even leaves no deal as an option after transition.

The DUP don't like it. They got predictably shafted.

Tomorrow is a debate and vote on the deal. Amendments are key, in particular the Letwin amendment which seeks to close a loophole in the Benn Act and stop the Deal being adopted tomorrow, instead forcing the ultimate decision over the deal to a later date and forcing an extension.

Which the EU may or may not agree to.

There is also talk of forcing another ref via amendments but this, unlike the Letwin amendment is unlikely to pass.

The vote tomorrow looks to be very tight. The Letwin amendment passes looks likely to make Johnson fail to have the numbers. However there is talk that enough Labour MPs have decided to back the deal.

There is also a big anti Brexit march in London tomorrow (which runs the risk of having problems with the Extinction Rebellion ban). Good luck to everyone going tomorrow.

See you on the other side (which might now be on this thread!!)

There is a such a large ability gap between Barclay and Starmer. “Could the Tories have a less able Brexit Secretary than Barclay?” DH asked.
And then an instant later Failing Grayling stood up to intervene.

If the WA bill is voted down, but the EU give us an extension - which they probably will - then of course the risk of No Deal is postponed to the end of the extension.
Again.

The Tories have such a deep pool of deeply ignorant Brexiters to dip into.

“Could the Tories have a less able Brexit Secretary than Barclay?”

He's the best yet, after Davies and Raab.

True, they could have chosen Grayling, or Patel, or Leadsom, or Bridgen, or ...
Indeed a bottomless well in the Party of Stupid

He's the best yet, after Davies and Raab.

What high praise

I am watching on Sky news because they keep doing a split screen which shows the march. It is very powerful to juxtapose that visual with “people just want us to get on with it” from dullard MPs.

Sky news doing a split screen which shows the march.

Those people are not The People. Those are the elite enemy of the people people.

Lewis Goodall@lewisgoodall

Tbh not sure what govt is getting so worked up about.

If there’s an indicative majority (including Lab rebels) for motion as amended, even with Letwin,
that’s a pretty big thing. Lab MPs will have crossed the rubicon.

They’ll have a v fair wind for proper MV on Tuesday.

< imo, it's a temper tantrum because BJ will be seen to have to request the extension >

Grayling gets up. Maybe he'll have something really interesting to contribute on rules of origin.

He does not. Ian Dunt

Thanks PanemEtCircenses, I've now changed channel.

Lewis Goodall@lewisgoodall

Starmer is a rare politician these days.
Someone who speaks from the dispatch box utterly across the detail and addresses serious policy
not just the politics.

Starmer says that though he disagreed with Theresa May he “always believed she had a profound sense of public service and duty”
and that she would never allow no deal to take place.

Says he doesn’t think the same of her successor.
Ken Clarke nods and mutters “yes”.

Theresa May has papers in front of her full of handwritten notes and scribbles.

Wonder if we’ll be treated to a speech scoring her successor’s efforts... 🤔

Keir Starmer is the Guv'nor. Fighting slogans with facts.

Yes. Love him.

What time is the vote on a)Letwin and b) the deal?

Hello - PMK from Cyprus. I’m due to fly back on 31 October. If Brexit happens on that date, then the U.K. will leave the EU whilst I’m flying.

Let's hope you fly back to an EU member state, oubliette - and a fuming BJ !

I cant bear to watch. Have a sinking feeling that this awful deal will get through.

Starmer gives me hope for the future. And then I look at the absolute state of the party I had until very recently spent a lifetime supporting and voting for and my hope ebbs away, because I don't think the Momentum gang will allow him to become leader.

icannot my sentiments exactly.

The Scots have been very vocal, and persuasive, about the shit hand they've been dealt. So true.

And that man they call the PM cannot open his own mouth without loving the sound of his own voice and probably actually believes his own lies - if you say something often enough then it's true?

The list of those MPs who are old enough to know Santa isn't real:

Sebastian Paynee@SebastianEPayne*

The 11 Labour MPs who confirmed to back the Brexit deal:

Kevin Barron
Ronnie Campbell
Sarah Champion
Rosie Cooper
Jim Fitzpatrick
Caroline Flint
John Mann
Ruth Smeeth
Melanie Onn
Gareth Snell
Graham Stringer

Nicholas Watt@nicholaswatt

Govt anger over Letwin amendment focuses on word: considers.
The amendment says HoC considers PM deal and withholds approval until it reaches statute book.

Withholding approval triggers Benn Act at 11pm tonight

< EU might withhold decision as along as possible, to pressure MPs to vote for a WA, but ultimately will almost certainly grant extension >

Can someone please explain in simple terms what is going on. What happens if x y and z? I am utterly confused now!

Keir Starmer@KeirStarmer

Five reasons to #VoteTheDealDown

❌ Rules out a Customs Union

❌ Rejects a close Single Market relationship

❌ Risks a no deal crash out at the end of 2020

❌ Does not address concerns about security and cooperation_

❌ You can’t trust Boris Johnson_

Interesting difference between Sky and BBC News in their reporting of the March in London: Sky reports "tens of thousands", whereas BBC reports "thousands"

Well if nothing else, the magic of Facebook has popped up a couple of friends - plus their 2 little ones (9 and 7) - are marching.

We marched twice, but DWs not up for it at the moment ... but I hope the weather is as nice as it is here in Brum.